Rights are set by state rules and by the program
There is no single national list of rights for people in addiction treatment. States that license treatment programs can set rules the programs must follow, including rules on client rights. Programs then write their own policies, which should not take those rights away.
The examples below come from official pages in Texas, California and Pennsylvania. They show the kinds of rights that exist, not what applies everywhere. Ask the program which state's rules it follows and for a copy of its rights statement.
Dignity, safety and freedom from abuse
Texas sets out a client bill of rights for chemical dependency treatment facilities. It includes the right to be treated with dignity and respect, the right to be free from abuse, neglect and exploitation, and the right to treatment in the least restrictive setting available that meets your needs. It also says your rights must be explained to you in simple terms within 24 hours of admission.
California's Department of Health Care Services publishes a personal rights form for residential substance use disorder facilities. It lists rights including dignity in relationships with staff and others, safe and comfortable accommodation, freedom from intellectual, emotional or physical abuse, and confidentiality. It says taking part in religious services is voluntary.
Information, consent and your treatment plan
The Texas bill of rights says you should be told, before admission, about your condition, the proposed treatment, its risks, alternatives and the expected length of stay. It says you have the right to accept or refuse treatment after that explanation, and to change your mind later unless the law specifically restricts it. It says you have the right to a treatment plan designed for your needs and to take part in developing it.
It also says you have the right to be told in advance about estimated charges and any limits on how long services will last. Texas law on chemical dependency treatment separately says medication may not be used as punishment or for the convenience of staff, and that patients have the right to refuse unnecessary or excessive medication.
In California, DHCS certification standards say a program must keep the admission agreement and give the client copies. Wherever you are, ask for a copy of anything you sign.
Your records and your civil rights
Pennsylvania's rules for licensed treatment facilities, at 28 Pa. Code §709.30, say clients keep their civil rights and liberties except as provided by law, and that no one may be deprived of a civil right solely because they are in treatment. They say clients have the right to inspect their own records and to ask for inaccurate, outdated or incomplete information to be corrected.
Federal rules also protect the confidentiality of many substance use treatment records. HHS explains the Part 2 protections for substance use disorder records. Ask the program whether those rules apply to it and for its privacy notice.
Leaving
If you entered treatment voluntarily, you can generally ask to leave. Some states set rules on how quickly a facility must act on a request, and those rules can differ even within one state's laws. A program may ask you to wait to speak with a clinician, especially if there are medical concerns. Ask the program, before admission, what happens if you want to leave and how long it can take.
If your treatment is connected to a court order, probation or another legal requirement, leaving may have consequences outside the program. Ask the appropriate legal adviser or the responsible office.
Making a complaint
The Texas bill of rights says you have the right to make a complaint and receive a fair response from the facility within a reasonable time. California's rights form says the program must tell you about the laws on complaints. Ask how to raise a concern inside the program, and which state agency handles complaints about it.
The guide to raising a complaint about a program explains how complaints to state agencies work in several states.
Sober living homes are different
Rights in a sober living home are not the same as rights in a treatment program, because a sober living home is housing rather than treatment. In Arizona, state law on sober living homes requires licensed homes to post a statement of resident rights that includes the right to complain, and to allow residents on medication-assisted treatment to continue it. Other states treat sober living differently.
Questions to ask before you sign
Ask for the program's written statement of client rights and its program rules, and read them before you sign the admission agreement. Ask what happens if a rule is broken, how decisions about discharge are made and how you can disagree. Ask how your information is shared and with whom.
If something is unclear, ask for it to be explained in plain language. If you have a disability, language need or reading difficulty, ask for the information in a form you can use.
Activities from this guide
Your checklist
Read the steps now. A free account lets you save your own checklist.
- 1. Ask for the written statement of rights
- 2. Keep a copy of what you sign
- 3. Ask what happens if you want to leave
About this guide
AI-generated editorial image; it does not depict a real person or event discussed in this guide.
Examples in this guide are illustrative, not reported experiences.
SoberSphere provides independent general information, not individual medical, legal or financial advice. No provider referral, affiliate arrangement or specialist review is claimed.